10-07-2025
Spain's top admiral dismisses fears of «Moroccan invasion» of Ceuta and Melilla
While 55% of Spaniards view Morocco as a «threat», Admiral Teodoro Lopez Calderon, Chief of the Defense Staff, dismissed the idea of a «Moroccan invasion of Ceuta and Melilla» on Wednesday, July 9.
«The current economic and human context guarantees our security for the next 15 years», he stated. Lopez Calderon also underscored the importance of the recent defense budget increase, calling it «considerable», and noted that «the prudent use of these financial resources will enhance the capabilities of the Spanish armed forces over the next 15 years».
During Wednesday's plenary session in the House of Representatives, the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, warned Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of a potential «invasion of Ceuta and Melilla». He called on the government to raise the defense budget to 5% of GDP, a demand also echoed by former U.S. President Donald Trump during the recent NATO summit in the Netherlands.
As a reminder, back in April, Admiral Lopez Calderon created a task force composed of military personnel to «assess and propose responses to the risks posed by Morocco's activities, both within and beyond Spanish territory».
